Frye sizzles with career highs, Bob Jones clinches Region 8
Bob Jones QB Jeremy Frye came back from a leg injury to lead the Patriots over Buckhorn
(CONTRIBUTED/CINDY HESS)
NEW MARKET- Quarterback Jeremy Frye, starting only his fourth game for Bob Jones, appears ready to put the Patriots on his shoulders. Friday night against Buckhorn with a region title hanging in the balance, the junior hit his career high in passing yards and threw four touchdown passes for his best game of the season leading Bob Jones to a 34-17 road win.
With the win, the Patriots claim the Class 6A, Region 8 championship. It is the fifth straight season that Bob Jones has won the region championship, all under head coach Kevin Rose.
Rose said the game was “a total team effort. To come to Buckhorn and win against a well-coached, talented team and win by 17 you’ve had a good week.”
Buckhorn came into the game on a 2 game winning streak and a 5-2 record.
Bob Jones jumped out to an early lead as Frye led the first drive converting two fourth downs along the way. He threw a six yard touchdown pass to Jay Rogers on fourth and one from the six after a play fake to Rogers.
Buckhorn running back Khari Blasingame broke some long runs on the next drive but the Bob Jones defense stiffened to force a 32-yard field goal, and Bob Jones led 7-3.
On the ensuing kickoff Miles Strickland scorched Buckhorn’s coverage team as he broke a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Buckhorn responded just before the half as receiver Graham Makenzie broke a reverse for a long run as the Patriot defense was slow to respond. Blasingame had a 2-yard run for a touchdown to make it 14-10.
Frye and the offense came out in the third quarter on fire. Jay Rogers ran for 15 yards. Then Frye lofted a long pass that fell in the arms of a well-covered Ryan Crooks who hauled it in for a 47-yard touchdown pass.
The defense got the ball right back as Christian Hess intercepted Buckhorn quarterback Dustin Scott. It marked the fourth straight game Hess has made an interception.
Christian Hess leads Bob Jones with 5 interceptions
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
Frye dialed long distance again this time to Jonathan Rice who caught two passes on the drive including a 20 yarder for a touchdown. Bob Jones led 27-10.
Buckhorn struck back quickly as Graham caught a 34-yard touchdown pass and then the Bucks defense came up with a big three and out stop.
The Patriot defense responded with a big stop of their own to halt Buckhorn’s momentum. Carson Styles had two big ankle tackles of Blasingame and Julian Lewis sacked Scott then Kyron Landry intercepted Scott’s pass on fourth down.
Frye made the play of the game on the next drive as he avoided the rush and threw long to Jonathan Rice for a 54 yard gain. On third and goal, Frye found Roderick Randolph on a 6 yard touchdown pass.
Rose said that Frye responded in the biggest game of the year with some big plays.
“He’s explosive and he’s got a knack for making the big play. When we needed to distance ourselves and they were stopping the run we needed to throw the football down the field he made some big throws,” Rose said.
Frye finished the game 15 of 20 passing for 232 yards and four touchdowns, all career highs. He also had 33 yards rushing on 8 carries.
Jay Rogers had 52 yards rushing and 56 yards receiving on 4 catches.
The Bob Jones defense held Buckhorn’s running back duo to less than 100 yards combined.
Rose said it “feels great” to get another region championship. “All the credit goes to our assistant coaches and our players. It says a lot for our football program.”
“This was our first goal this season but we have bigger goals ahead of us,” Rose said.
The region championship assures Bob Jones will host a first round playoff game and if they win would host a second round game also.
